As Tropical Storm Isaac nears hurricane strength and threatens the Gulf Coast, several sports teams are adjusting their travel and playing schedules. Officials from Louisiana Tech "hope to decide by this afternoon" whether the football season opener Thursday night against Texas A&M will take place in Shreveport's Independence Stadium. Shreveport is "roughly 200 miles inland," but it "could be used for evacuees from the coast." The game is slated to be broadcast on ESPNU (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/28).
The Saints opted to fly to Cincinnati last night ahead of Thursday's preseason game against the Titans. The team was "slated to depart for Nashville on Wednesday, but Isaac forced officials to push up plans and hastily call the players in for an emergency hurricane meeting Sunday" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 8/28).
The Univ. of New Orleans is evacuating 40 of its athletes to Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. UNO men's basketball coach Mark Slessinger said that "his entire team was included in the contingent" (NOLA.com, 8/27).
Marlins Park "endured its first brush with tropical weather without damage with the retractable roof being secured in hurricane mode." Winds from Isaac gusted at 30-40mph as the storm passed over South Florida on Sunday. Marlins Exec VP/Ballpark Development Claude Delorme said that the venue "will be ready to open a nine-game homestand" tonight against the Nationals (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 8/28).
